It is worthy of note that even today--20-30 years after
the testing, and 2-3 years after CDC's initial identification of a possible increased incidence of leukemia among
Shot SMOKY participants--that this single anomaly is the
only indication we have of a possible health problem.
The
CDC epidemiological study of SMOKY participants continues.
Although the leukemia incidence among this group appears
abnormal,
the incidence of all other cancers currently
appears to be about as expected.
The CDC epidemiological
Study is attempting to determine the cause of this increased
leukemia incidence, whether it be radiation exposures at
nuclear
tests or some other cause such as medical X-rays
or environmental carcinogens.
It is hoped that the DoD/DoEsponsored morbidity/mortality study by the National Academy
of Sciences will show whether the SMOKY statistics are an
isolated phenomenon, or whether other groups of test participants may also display an increased incidence of disease.
In any case,
there is a current problem with public perceptions.
If there actually is an increased level of risk for test
participants, it is very slight.
Yet the alarmist publicity
of the past year or two has blown it all out of proportion,
and has unduly frightened many test participants.
In an
attempt to place the problem in proper perspective, the
President's Interagency Task Force on the Health Effects
of Tonizing Radiation has recently presented,
in comprehensive
fashion, all available scientific information pertinent
to the issue.
The Task Force Report points out that, of
the 250,000 DoD test participants, some 40,000 would be
expected to die of cancer
exposure from the tests.
from causes not related to radiation
In contrast, the Report states
that if current estimates of exposure are correct, the
accepted views of medical science indicate that there might
eventually be 12 cancer deaths from among the 250,000 which
are statistically related to test radiation exposure.
Thus,
national efforts to handle the health aspects of atmospheric
test participants must be carried out without alarming the
great majority.
The publicity programs and notification
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programs of DoD's NTPR effort are designed to do this.